US Army warns of database breaches in South Korea

The U.S. Army warned Thursday that databases holding information on 16,000 South Korean civilian employees of the U.S. military and applicants for base jobs may have been compromised.

The military became aware on May 28 that the Korean National Recruitment System may have been breached, according to a letter addressed to Korean employees signed by Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, head of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

Information that may have been disclosed includes peoples' names, contact information, education, work experience and Korean Identification Number, which is South Korea's national government ID issued to citizens.

That system may have been accessed through a server run by the Civilian Human Resources Agency Far East, according to a report in Pacific Stars and Stripes.

The agency manages the hiring of civilians to work for the U.S. military in Japan and South Korea.

The affected system was taken offline, and an investigation is underway, Scaparrotti wrote. South Korean government officials have been notified.

"USFK takes this potential compromise very seriously and is reviewing policies and practices with a view of determining what must be changed," Scaparrotti wrote.

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